Editor's Note

The Charge

Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.

Opening Statement

"What's a person worth to you?"

Facts of the Case

World War II has just begun, and times are hard for many
people—particularly the Polish Jews who have just been transported to the
Krakow Ghetto. However, where most see tragedy, some men see
opportunity—men like Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson, Taken), a German businessman who hopes to
engage in a bit of good old-fashioned war profiteering. Schindler is determined
to set up a factory and become a manufacturer of mess kits, but he knows next to
nothing about running a business. So, he hires Jewish accountant Itzhak Stern
(Ben Kingsley, Gandhi) to essentially
run the business for him. While Schindler is only interested in profits, Stern
sees an opportunity to aid his fellow Jews. New laws have ensured that Jews cost
much less to employ than anyone else, which makes it profitable for Schindler to
hire only Jewish workers. However, those with jobs in Schindler's factory will
also be permitted to leave the ghetto. As such, Stern does everything within his
power to persuade Schindler to hire as many Jews as possible (particularly those
in dire need of aid).

As time passes, life only gets harsher for the Jewish people. Soon, the
Nazis turn Schindler's factory into part of a concentration camp that is
overseen by the merciless Amon Goeth (Ralph Fiennes, The Constant Gardener). Everyone does
what they can to survive, but no amount of caution can defend against Goeth's
constant outbursts of murderous rage. After witnessing the depths of Goeth's
hatred, Schindler begins to develop a conscience and feel a sense of
responsibility for his employees. After some deep soul-searching, he vows to pay
whatever price is necessary to save the lives of his workers.

The Evidence

One of the strongest moments in Schindler's List comes late in the
film, when Schindler and Stern have just finished compiling the titular list. It
is filled with the names of Jewish individuals Schindler is spending his own
money to save. Stern looks and Schindler and makes a simple, touching
declaration: "This list…is an absolute good. The list is life. All
around its margins lies the gulf." Schindler may have been a womanizer, a
war profiteer, a popular member of the Nazi party and many other unsavory
things, but the fact of the matter is that he took a stand for what was right
during a time in which most other German men in his position were either
participating in or endorsing unspeakable evil. In one sense, it seems like such
a small achievement—for a man to simply choose to do a good thing instead
of a horrific thing—but such actions can be so rare during the times when
we need them the most. The fact that Schindler saved the lives of 1200 people is
deeply moving, but it also serves to accentuate the fact that no one was there
to stand up for the more than six million other Jews who were exterminated
during the Holocaust.

I'm not sure that it's even possible to capture the full extent of the
horror of the Holocaust. Schindler's List is a crushingly sad movie, and
only made bearable by the fact that we're centered on a story of survival. Some
have accused Spielberg of giving a horrific chapter in history a happy ending.
That's complete nonsense. The survivors of this story are put through hell over
the course of the film, and the knowledge that they fared far better than many
(a fact the film briefly re-emphasizes before the end credits begin) serves to
remind us of just how terrible things really were. At no point does Spielberg
attempt to soften the reality of what happened. In several lengthy, nearly
unbearable sequences, the director unflinchingly outlines the depths of cruelty
the Jewish people were subjected to. Without Schindler's story, the film would
simply be a relentless catalogue of despair. With his story, it becomes a
reminder that basic human decency can and must survive anything.

The film is a deeply personal one for Spielberg, and he has consistently
treated it with greater caution than any of his other efforts. He refused to
accept any payment for directing the film, claiming that it would be accepting
"blood money" and insisting that all proceeds be given to the Shoah
Foundation. He has refused to autograph any materials related to the film.
Despite the fact that most Spielberg DVD and Blu-ray releases have received
generous bonus materials detailing the making of each film, Spielberg has not
included any making-of material on any home video release of Schindler's
List (only including interviews with real-life Holocaust survivors and
information about the Shoah Foundation). Any time one makes a film about a
subject as sensitive as the Holocaust, there are bound to be cynical accusations
of all sorts (being accused of making awards bait, exploiting tragedy for
personal gain, etc.), but Spielberg has worked hard to ensure that no reasonable
person could ever mistake this as anything other than a pure-hearted effort to
educate the public and honor the victims of the Holocaust.

That passion shines through in the film itself, as Spielberg demonstrates a
level of sure-handed skill that is strong even by his own high standards.
Spielberg has made several excellent historical dramas (including The Color Purple, Empire of the
Sun and Saving Private
Ryan), but as far as I'm concerned Schindler's List stands above all
of them (and most other historical dramas by most other directors, for that
matter). Every little detail is so persuasive and absorbing; the film grabs you
early on, never lets you go and leaves you emotionally exhausted by the time it
concludes. I've seen the 195-minute film several times, and not once have I been
aware of its considerable length. Part of this is due to the fact that despite
the grave subject matter, Spielberg remains well aware of his responsibility to
keep the audience engaged. In the wrong hands, Schindler's List might
have felt like little more than a somber sermon (something that might have
easily happened, given that Spielberg approached several other directors about
making the movie before deciding to do it himself). Spielberg's skills as an
entertainer join forces with his passion for the material to create a film that
is spellbinding even when it's grueling.

Almost any single element of the movie could be praised at great length, but
let us simply say that everyone involved is at the top of their game. Neeson's
Schindler is charismatic and appealing. Ben Kingsley's quiet dignity forms the
soul of the film. Ralph Fiennes delivers one of cinema's most chilling portraits
of evil. Janusz Kaminski's cinematography is artful and inventive without ever
calling attention to itself. John Williams' score (featuring violin solos by
Ithzak Perlman) is one of the composer's most heartfelt efforts. Steve Zallian's
screenplay (greatly expanded from its much shorter original draft at Spielberg's
request) is far and away the finest thing he's done.

The film concludes on two scenes that never fail to move me immensely. First
is the much-debated "I could have saved more" scene, which critics
have accused of indulging in false sentiment. Perhaps I'm simply too easily
manipulated, but the emotional catharsis of the sequence proves overwhelming
each and every time. It's partially the music, it's partially Neeson's
carefully-measured performance suddenly turning nakedly emotional and it's
partially that this moment finally permits the viewer to step back and really
reflect on everything that has been occurring over the previous three hours. The
second scene involves a transition from dramatization to reality, as we witness
real-life survivors paying a visit to the real Schindler's grave. Simply to see
them alive reduces me to tears each and every time. Steven Spielberg made great
films before Schindler's List and he has made great films since, but I
doubt he will ever deliver another scene with as much emotional heft as the
scene that concludes this film.

Schindler's List (Blu-ray) has received an exceptional 1080p/1.85:1
transfer that was personally supervised by the director. Detail is strong
throughout, blacks are deep and shadow delineation is very impressive. A light
layer of natural grain is left intact and is pleasingly consistent. There are
faint traces of ringing on occasion, but otherwise there's nothing to complain
about. Spielberg's films have fared quite well on Blu-ray to date, and this one
is no exception. The DTS HD 5.1 Master Audio track is masterful; a truly
immersive track that further enhances the persuasiveness of the film. There's
tremendous balance between the score, dialogue and sound design, with a handful
of louder sequences proving as overwhelming and sonically complex as they need
to be. As mentioned earlier, supplements are limited to a 70-minute documentary
featuring interviews with Holocaust survivors and two 5-minute pieces
spotlighting the work of the Shoah Foundation. Oddly, these supplements are
included on the DVD copy of the film (which is spread across two
discs)—the Blu-ray disc contains only the film itself. A digital copy is
also included.

Closing Statement

Despite the fact that some have grown increasingly comfortable with
dismissing Schindler's List in recent years, I feel it remains one of the
most powerful films ever made. It's one of those rare films that ennobles the
medium of cinema and an essential viewing experience for every person old enough
to handle the necessarily harsh R-rated content it contains.